Garie Beach

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History

There are two theories of the origins of the name. Garie is an Aboriginal word meaning 'sleepy'. The name could also be a deviation of the name of a bushranger called Geaty, who camped here. [http://www.sutherland.nsw.gov.au/ssc/rwpattach.nsf/0/Factsheet_6_FINAL_20030728.pdf/$file/Factsheet_6_FINAL_20030728.pdf]

Facilities

Garie Beach is accessible via Garie Road, and has a carpark. It has no BBQ but has toilets, a surf safety centre, a kiosk and a picnic area. A youth hostel is also located close to Garie Beach.

Redevelopment

The construction of the Garie Beach Surf Safety Centre is one component of a larger planning and construction program to improve the Garie Beach Valley for the enjoyment of beach users. Stage one of the program was completed in June 2005 and included constructing a 175-space car park, and restoring the creek line and the beach foredune.

Stage two involved designing, developing and constructing the Garie Beach Surf Safety Centre, landscaped forecourt and picnic areas. The surf safety centre, once completed, will contain public showers and toilets, a first aid room, kiosk, boat and equipment storage, a radio room, and meeting rooms and office space for the Garie Surf Life Saving Club. As there is no electricity, no sewerage system and no mains water in the Garie Valley, the surf safety centre will be solar powered, and include a low-flush hybrid treatment system to provide flushing toilets which will use on-site biological treatment. Rainwater storage tanks will hold 31,600 litres of rainwater to provide showers for beach users. [ http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/dec_media_min_070308_01 ]

urfing

Garie Beach has some of the best surfing waves in Sydney and is a very popular family beach destination. The Garie Surf Life Saving Club will provide an essential community service in helping to keep the public safe at the beach. Garie is home to the Garie Board Riders club. Garie Boardrider club has an active membership of just over 100 member on average and has been continually running as a boardriders club since 1978. The club's books now have over 500 members on them and a lot of older members are returning to compete in the senior and masters divisions.

Garie Boardriders is affiliated with the Illawarra Area Boardriders Association and Surfing NSW and its members have competed up to Australia Titles level as well as a couple who competed at APSA and more recently ACC level. [ [http://www.gariesurfclub.com/AboutUs.aspx Garie Surf Club ] ]

References